Disclaimer: I don't in any way own the series Doctor Who. Those are the sole property of the BBC.

Return to Satellite 5 AU: "Bad Wolf", "The Parting of the Ways" and "Born Again".

Chapter Six: Wolf Moon Rising

Jack couldn't help but have fun with the two robots which he'd finally got the names to. Zu-Zana was the blue one with the anime eyes and large plastic breast; Trin-E was the other purple pen shape head and difficult personality.

They'd had him change again though it appeared they were trying out the preppy look with tennis shirt, shorts, shoes and even a tennis racket. The ex-time agent tossed the racket back and forth between his hands and a few experimental swings watching himself in the wall mirror.

Jack stopped moving and looked over at robots with an expression of skepticism, "I'm not sure about this outfit. It's not really me. A little too clean cut and pretentious."

Zu-Zana ignored Jack's comment turned to look at the handsome 51st century man. "It's now time for stage two! You ready."

Jack stood straight with a disarming smile on his face. "Show me what you got girls!"

Once again, the Defabrictor beam reduced Jack to bare skin. The blue eyed man use to the effect was unfazed and looked eager to go into the next part of the process.

The green droid Trin-E's voice was filled with programed glee. "It's face-off time!"

Jack bounced once enthusiastically not comprehending the two droids intent. "So I have to compete with someone else now?" The brown haired man was a bit puzzled as what he could recall about 20th to 21st century reality television shows, most were games but not all. Jack was quite sure that this particular one wasn't about winning prizes.

"No, I mean exactly that… face… off!" The Trin-E droids vocal modulator sounded too cheerful for the ex-con man. Jack let none of his emotions show, as the droid turned towards him, the one arm had instead of a hand was chain saw the other hand the fingertips were replaced by needles.

Zu-Zana had also modified an arm into a very large pair of scissors which she opened and closed as if testing there sharpness. The blue droid analyzed the naked man before it and in an excited synthesized voice, "What about a wolf's head. I think you would look marvelous with one of those." It snipped the scissors as if enforce the idea.
"Oh, here's a thought no head. What a spectacular fashion statement that would be." Trin-E was practically crowing over her own engineered thoughts.

Zu-Zana continued to expand on how to make Jack physical more attractive by dismemberment. "Yes, that would be good. His torso is nice but it could be better. Hmm… his legs, they'd be quite brilliant there right in the middle." The blue droid was close to vibrating with anticipation.
Jack just stood with a raised eyebrow as the two female robots planned on removing his body parts and attaching or reattaching as the case called for animal parts and his own. As intriguing as that all was he was positive that he'd rather stay with everything exactly where it was.

"Fashion is for the radicals, for being bold and over the top. Creations that people are dying to have." The purple droid glided closer the saw buzzed louder as Trin-E gestured with it.

"Whoa, wait a minute ladies. We were having such a good time don't make me have to shoot you." Jack warned in a light hearted manner, his hands folded behind him.

Trin-E hummed lightly as its processor ran the human's unusual request. "You have no weapon!"

"But you're nude! Why are your hands behind your back?" Zu-Zana exclaimed at the same time in a confused tone.

Jack grinned like a mischievous boy who had a secret. "Well you got me." He said at the same moment he swung said arms back into sight. In his hand he gripped a small gun which he aimed at the duo.

Zu-Zana computer mind whirred faster as it tried to adjust to the client's aggressive behavior. "A Compact Laser Deluxe, how did you get that?"

"Where could you have hidden that?!" Trin-E seemed about to bust a gear at the affront he had done, not only smuggling a weapon into the studio and effectively hiding but to drawing point at them was rude. It would not stand for the TV show rules to be broken.

Jack was use to improvising and always being prepared. Being the Doctor's companion notwithstanding, having been a con-man you never knew when plans would go pear shaped. "That's privileged information and on a nee-to-know… and you don't need to know."

Trin-E stalked forward menacing not intimidated by the small gun. "you will hand over that unauthorized accessory…"

The ex-Time agent wasn't one to make ideal threats or wait around while psychotic droids went all Ed Gein, a 20th century serial killer, on him. Jack fired taking off the green droid Trin-E's head, and immediately did the same to Zu-Zana. "Sorry ladies but playtime is over. It's time I go and find the Doctor and Rose."

Once again, Rose and the other contestants were standing before the Len-bot, at least those who'd made it to the third round. Unfortunately for Team Agorax and Team Broff, they been eliminated in round two, and like Team Fitch there had been one person who hadn't wanted to voluntary walk into the death chamber. Not that it did them any good the robot was an excellent shot.

"And the next to be eliminated is… Team Pando and Team Colleen. Sorry you didn't have what it takes." The Len-bot gestured the two couples towards the transparent chamber.

The two teams slowly walked over, Rose could see tears and panic on their faces. The woman from team Colleen clutched tightly to her partner. They appeared to be holding each other up. Rose couldn't bear to see four more people going to their deaths, just for some idiotic game. She did notice that she wasn't the only one who avoided looking. Rick was staring in her direction which actually ticked her off. He had been only a bit ago telling her it was her fault if they didn't win. He couldn't even watch as the others went in their place because as far as Rose was concern Team Colleen should have remained. They had danced way better than her and Rick. Not that she wanted to die.

Her anger vanished as she heard the terrified crying and whimpering before the disintegrator beam cut those sounds off abruptly. The lights dimmed and the floor manager was there looking at his data pad. "Alright everyone! That's a two minute break starting now."

Rose really couldn't understand how these people could be so insensitive. The anger was back in full force as the blonde woman glared at the man.

The floor manager didn't notice as he tapped away on his transparent pad. "And just remember… there will be a solar flare activity in another ten minutes."

Rose turned her attention back over to Rick as he pulled her into the direction of their alcove. The blonde couldn't stand it, she tore her wrist out of the man's grasp. "You don't need to lead me around like a dog."

Rick shrugged not bothering to face her. His attitude was exceedingly irritating at first he was in her space, bossy and threatening, and now it was like he didn't seem to give a damn. "What's with you? You got what you wanted? It's just us and Team Lovrick in the finals."

Rick finally turned to her his eyes wary. "That's the problem. We would have been better off if Team Pando were the ones we had to go against. The only good thing is that we'll be the last to go. But then again beating them will most definitely prove that I can teach anyone and deserve to win the contract from the Bad Wolf Corporation."

Rose scowled at the man's explanation but froze stunned at the last part. "Bad Wolf, Who are they?"

Rick looked at his partner as if she had two heads. "They are biggest corporation ever. They own and operate the whole Game Station for about hundred years."

"But really. Why Bad Wolf? Why would a corporation use that for a name?" asked Rose feeling that it was one coincidence to many.

The dancer looked baffled by the blonde woman's questions. "It's from some old Earth nursery rhyme. Big company like that can have any name they want."

"Yeah, but Bad Wolf? It's like those words have been following the Doctor and I around everywhere." Rose murmured pensively as her mind went through all the places that she'd either seen or heard those two words.

In 1869, Cardiff in the cleaning nook with the maid Gwyneth rambling about things that she couldn't possible known. "Oh miss but you've seen the darkness… The Big Bad Wolf…" The poor maid had uttered those words before cutting herself off from fright.

There was 2012, Utah in the underground base. It had come over the PA system, "Personnel… Bad Wolf One incoming." Rose realized now that had been the slime Van Statten arriving. And at the town hall in Cardiff again where the Doctor had translated Margaret the Slitheen's nuclear project name of Blaidd Drwg. Even at the Powell Estate it was graffiti'd on everything including the TARDIS. She also remembered hearing it before on that very Station when it had been all about news. There had been an announcement that the Face of Boe had been pregnant with a Boemina, on the Bad Wolf Channel.

Rose stood shaken, the blood drain from her face. There were even more incidences but what did it all mean. "Bad Wolf, it's been written across time and the universe."

"Rose Tyler you need to get yourself together. What's it really matter that a couple of common words have been around in your travels. I don't need you going nutters now." Rick's harsh words were meant to snap the blonde woman back into reality. Rick didn't dare shaking Rose, since he'd figured out that for some bizarre reason the stupid cow got sick every time he touched her and the last round of the game was coming up he need her to be fit.

Rose however was still contemplating the meaning of those two words. 'They had to been there for a specific purpose.' The former shop girl's face transformed from puzzlement to dawning horror. "My being here wasn't a mistake. It's like somebody's guiding or arranging us, like chess pieces, this whole time."

TBC…